Rhoda Skinner Scarborough Pioneer

Toronto's Historical Plaques

Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.

Here in Thomson Memorial Park at 1007 Brimley Road behind the Cornell House is a 1992 City of Scarborough plaque which has this to say about pioneer women:

This plaque is dedicated to the women who pioneered the wilderness of Ontario in the early 19th century and, in particular, to Rhoda Skinner (1775 1834). In addition to laborious household chores, assisting with the farming, and coping with fears and challenges unheard of today, they were often called upon to raise huge families. Rhoda was the mother to 37 children by two husbands.

Location Co-ordinates: 43.757600 -79.254754

Photo by Alan L Brown - August 2007

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Posted June 3, 2008
Rhoda Skinner was actually the birth mother of only 18 children. The other 19 were step-children, 7 from her first husband's previous marriage and 12 step-children from her second husband's first marriage. Rhoda gave birth to 12 children by her first marriage and 6 be her second. In summary, she was mother AND STEP-MOTHER to 37 children.

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